. But both his spirits
and his habits had suffered. He had quarrelled with his aunt, and she
was his bread and butter--ay, buttered on both sides. How lightly these
young fellows quarrel with the foolish old worshippers who lay their
gold, frankincense, and myrrh, at the feet of the handsome thankless
idols. They think it all independence and high spirit, whereas we know
it is nothing but a little egotistical tyranny, that unconsciously
calculates even in the heyday of its indulgence upon the punctual return
of the penitent old worshipper, with his or her votive offerings.

Perhaps the gipsy had thought better of it, and was already sorry he had
not kept the peace. At all events, though his toilet and wardrobe were
splendid--for fine fellows in his plight deny themselves nothing--yet
morally he was seedy, and in temper soured. His duns had found him out,
and pursued him in wrath and alarm to England, and pestered him very
seriously indeed. He owed money beside to several of his brother
officers, and it was not pleasant to face them without a guinea. An evil
propensity, at which, as you remember, General Chattesworth hinted, had
grown amid his distresses, and the sting of self-reproach exasperated
him. Then there was his old love for Lilias Walsingham, and the pang of
rejection, and the hope of a strong passion sometimes leaping high and
bright, and sometimes nickering into ghastly shadows and darkness.

Indeed, he was by no means so companionable just now as in happier
times, and was sometimes confoundedly morose and snappish--for, as you
perceive, things had not gone well with him latterly. Still he was now
and then tolerably like his old self.

Toole, passing by, saw him in the window. Devereux smiled and nodded,
and the doctor stopped short at the railings, and grinned up in return,
and threw out his arms to express surprise, and then snapped his
fingers, and cut a little caper, as though he would say--'Now, you're
come back--we'll have fun and fiddling again.' And forthwith he began to
bawl his enquiries and salutations. But Devereux called him up
peremptorily, for he wanted to hear the news--especially all about the
Walsinghams. And up came Toole, and they had a great shaking of hands,
and the doctor opened his budget and rattled away.

Of Sturk's tragedy and Nutter's disappearance he had already heard. And
he now heard some of the club gossip, and all about Dangerfield's
proposal for Gertrude Chattesworth, and